SENTENCE STRUCTURE

There are 4 structures of sentences.

Simple
Compound
Complex
Compound-Complex
CLAUSES
In order to determine what the structure
of a sentence is, you must determine what
type of clauses are included in the
sentence.
 Independent vs. Dependent
INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT
CLAUSESES CLAUSES

A part of a sentence A part of sentence that

that can stand alone. cannot stand alone.
It is also called a Example:
main clause. When it began to rain,
Example: the fire went out.
The dog dropped to
the ground.
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence contains one
independent clause.

Example:
Cindy wanted a hat.
She got a dress.
Cindy found jeans on sale.
Compound Sentences

A compound sentence consists of more

than one independent clauses joined by
either a semicolon or a regular
conjunction.
Example:
1. Dan’s father works at Macy’s and Dan buys
his clothes there.
2. His father sells shoes; he prefers the suit
department.
Guided Practice
 Write each sentence. Underline each independent clause. Circle the conjunction that
joins the clauses.

 Example. Cats vary in size, and many have different coloring.

1. Wild cats often hunt at night, but some prefer dusk or dawn
2. Cats see well in daylight, and their eyes adjust to darkness.
3. Cats may have soft voices, or they may have penetrating calls.
4. Grassland leopards are tan with black spots, but forest leopards are
much darker.
5. Lions live in Africa, but most of them are in national parks.
Complex Sentences
 A complex sentence contains one
independent clause and one or more
dependent clauses.

Example:
1. Though we were hungry, none of us ate.
2. Since she wasn’t hungry, I ate her food.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Dependent clauses are signaled by
subordinating conjunctions. These are the
most common. They start off adverb clauses.
◦ After
◦ Because
◦ Since
◦ Though
◦ While
◦ When
 Relative Pronouns
Dependent clauses are always signaled by
relative pronouns. Relative pronouns start off
adjective clauses.
That
Which
Who
Whom
Whose
Whoever
Whomever
It can also begin with where or when
 1. TELL WHETHER EACH GROUP OF WORDS IS A DEPENDENT
CLAUSE.

***Remember*** “Can it stand alone?”

1. Because the owls were awake.

2. Every sound frightened us.
3. The wind brushed our cheeks.
4. After a gentle rainfall.
5. While the racket continued.
6. We dashed through the dark woods.
7. Though we didn’t notice.
8. Who was nicknamed Johnny Appleseed.
Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence contains
more than one main clause and at least
one dependent clause.

Example:
When Casey came up to bat, the bases
were loaded and there were two outs.
For the following sentences, underline the relative pronoun
and write the dependent clause.
 Kim, who is very fashionable, rolls her eyes a lot.

 The table that has a broken leg is propped up with

books.

 Most of our dry erase markers, which are used a lot

everyday, are drying up.

 Many students who do not do their homework will get

a much lower grade than they expect.

 Good students do their homework, which helps them

do better on their tests.
 For the following sentences, underline the subordinating
conjunction and write the dependent clause.

 After winter break, we will work a lot more on our reading skills.

 There will be no vocabulary due next week since there is no

school next Friday.

 Whenever there is a break from school, most of us sleep later.

 Sometimes I wish we went to school year-round because they get

more breaks.

 If you travel over the break, you might run into a lot of traffic.
Four Sentence Types

End Marks Lesson

End Marks
Three ways to end sentences in English:

Period .
Question ?
Exclamation Point !
There are four types of sentences.
Declarative Sentences
 Declarative sentences make statements. Most sentences are
declarative. Declarative sentences always end with a period.
Examples
I like pizza.
This is easy.
Cookies taste good.
We didn’t get home until late.
Dolphins can recognize their reflections.

In each of these sentences the speaker makes a declaration; hence,

they are declarative sentences.
Imperative Sentences
Give orders, commands and
instructions,
end with periods or exclamation points.
The subject is always “you” and implied.
Examples
Be home by midnight.
Drop the weapon!
Look at me!
Interrogative Sentences
Ask questions,
end with question marks.

Examples

Are you going home?

When is the graduation?
Why didn’t I take notes?
Exclamatory Sentences
 Exclamatory sentences express excitement or emotion.
 Writers express the exclamatory tone when they end their sentences
in exclamation points. Every exclamatory sentence should end in an
exclamation point.
Examples
That was awesome!
I’m sick of this!
I can’t believe we won!

Notice in each case that the sentence expresses an emotion.

Exclamation point signal to readers that the speaker is yelling or
exclaiming.
Practice
Write down whether each sentence is…

Declarative
Imperative
Exclamatory
Interrogative
1
Get out some paper and a pencil.
2
If you don’t have a pencil, you can use one
of my crayons.
3
Why aren’t you doing your work?
4
The students wondered how many
questions they would have to answer.
5
I’m so happy that we don’t have to write
the sentences!
6
Stop playing around and listen to
instruction.
7
We have to answer and review ten practice
questions before the lesson is done.
8
Why didn’t you put your name on top of
your paper?
9
Stop bothering her!
10
He wondered why he got number ten
wrong.
 Practice
Write sentences for each kinds of sentence
here:
1.Imperative (3 sentences)
2.Declarative (3 sentences)
3.Interrogative (3 sentences)
4.Exclamatory (3 sentences)
5.Compound Sentence (3 sentences)
6.Complex Sentence (3 Sentences)
7.Compound-Complex (3 Sentences)